Festuca grass named &#39;Freedom Fire Francy&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of ornamental grass, denominated ‘Francy’, is a non-spreading, bunch type ornamental grass with a tall stature, multi-colored culms and panicles and is fine-leaved.

Latin name of the genus and species of the plant claimed: ‘FREEDOM FIREFRANCY’ is a new ornamental grass that is a Festuca idahoensis (4×) X F.ovina (2×) triploid (3×) hybrid.

Variety denomination: The new ornamental grass claimed is of the varietydenominated ‘Freedom Fire Francy’, Festuca idahoensis (4×) X F. ovina(2×) triploid (3×) hybrid.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct ornamental grasscultivar designated ‘Freedom Fire Francy’ and botanically known as asterile naturalized Festuca species triploid hybrid (3×) between F.idahoensis (4×) and F. ovina (2×) (Staub et al., 2014). The sourcepopulation for ‘Francy’ was collected in 1982, as seed from a nativefine-leaved Festuca population near Busby, Mont. on the Charles E.Helvey Ranch (T7S R39E NW1/4Sec 3; 45° 31′39″N 106° 58′25″W) east of theRosebud River in Big Horn County, Mont., which designated it FEID9025897. In 2009, a visual inspection of 270 FEID 9025897 cloned plantsexamined under replication in a Logan UT field nursery indicated thatthe vast majority (>98%) was sterile (degenerated pistils and stamens)(Staub et al., 2014). Of these plants, 19 were comparatively vigorous,relatively tall, and possessed multi-colored culms under harsh semi-aridconditions. These 19 plants were cloned in 2013 and their culm andpanicle coloration, relative plant vigor, and plant habit was comparedunder replication to commercial Festuca cultivars over two years (2014and 2015) at three semi-arid locations in Logan, Kaysville, and Vernon,Utah. Regardless of year and location, experimental ARS FEID-33(‘Francy’) was one of four clones that received the highest colorratings (intensity and breath of hues) among the experimental clones andcontrols examined. Although the culm and panicle color intensity mayvary depending on growing conditions, the plant habit and culm andpanicle hues ‘Francy’ have been determined to be stable over successivegenerations of cloning. Culms and panicles of ‘Francy’ exhibit primarilyintense pink, salmon, purple, orange, yellow, gold, and marooncoloration depending on growing location.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

FIG. 1 is a color photograph showing coloration of a three-year oldFestuca ornamental grass ‘Francy’ as nearly true as it is reasonablypossible to make in a color illustration of this type.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW CULTIVAR

The following description of ‘Freedom Fire Francy’ is based onobservations taken over two years (2014-2015) of cloned plants underreplication (4) in three semi-arid western U.S. growing locations afteran initial establishment year. Color data (except those in common terms)are described from Royal Horticulture Society (R.H.S.) color chartdesignations (Edition V; London, England).

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and represent thecharacteristics of ‘Francy’ under three ecologically diverseenvironments in the Great Basin of the western United States [Logan (41°45′56.01″N 111° 48′39.69″W), Kaysville (41° 1′17.36″N 111° 56′17.95″W),and Vernon (40° 7′19.18″N 112° 26′12.20″W), Utah]. These reproductiveand color (culm and panicle) attributes in combination distinguish‘Francy’ from all other Festuca rangeland cultivars and FEID 9025897selections.

-   -   1. ‘Francy’ is fully sterile by examination of floral parts and        seed germination ability, and is defined as a hybrid as        determined by DNA analysis and flow cytometry (Staub et al.,        2014).    -   2. The culm and panicle coloration (hue) of ‘Francy’ is more        diverse (wider range) and intense than standard rangeland native        Festuca species [i.e., cultivars Nezpur (4×; F. idahoensis),        Joseph (4×; F. idahoensis), Bighorn (2×; F. ovina), Covar        (2×; F. valesiaca), and Durar (6×; F. trachyphylla)].        ‘Francy’ is substantially larger, that is approximately 23        (2014)-30% (2015) based on plant height and more persistent,        that is approximately 10 (2014)-11% (2015) based on plant        presence, than standard native rangeland Festuca cultivars under        non-irrigated western U.S. semiarid growing environments        (1,340-1697 m elevation, average 20-year precipitation        287-437 mm) without supplemental irrigation.

The general observations and descriptions are the result of measurementstaken on 2 and 3-year old plants under replication in field nurseries inLogan, Kaysville, and Vernon, Utah. Six plants of each experimentalclonal selection (designated as a plot) were grown in each of fourreplications at each location in a randomized complete block design.Plants spaced 0.5 m with rows and 1 m between rows (˜22,000 plants/ha)where vigor in May, culm and panicle coloration in June/July, and sizein August vary depending on year and growing location.

The height and width (centimeters) measurements were obtained during thelast two weeks of June of each of two years. Plant vigor (“springgreen-up”) was assessed by visual ratings of relative size, colorintensity, and transition from winter to spring growth during the firsttwo weeks of May. For biomass estimation (dry weight as grams·plant⁻¹),leaves and inflorescence spikes were harvested each year ≈10 cm aboveground when inflorescences were dry, and then oven dried at 60° C.Persistence was determined by counting the number of plants alive withineach plot at the time of harvest.

Color of the tussock, culm, and panicle were obtained through visualevaluation as assessed once at each location by 4-8 judges in late Juneor early July when optimal coloration was observed among cloned plants,which was location and year dependent. Judges examined and characterizedcoloration at the base (tussock), lower third, middle third, and topthird of inflorescences of all plants within a plot between 0800 and1100 HR in each rating area of all entries. Colors assigned by judgeswere based on alignments with Royal Horticulture Society (R.H.S.) colorchart designations (edition V). Judges identified green (RHS 140A),blue-green (RHS 125A), grey (RHS N187D), brown (RHS 165A), yellow (RHS4A), gold (RHS 7C), orange (RHS N25C), pink (RHS 67D), salmon (RHS 58C),maroon (RHS N79C), and purple (RHS N78A).

The average percentage color distribution for each rating area wascalculated over replications and judges for each entry as the sum of theratings for that color divided by the total number of ratings multipliedby 100 [e.g., % green at the base =(green base ratings/total baseratings)*100]. Additionally, judges assigned an overall color intensityrating of 1 to 5 (0.5 units; 1=no color, 3=moderate color intensity, and5=vibrant color intensity) to entries by plot (one value per plot),which was then averaged over replications to provide an average relativecolor (ARC) intensity for each entry.

Where dimensions, sizes, colors and other characteristics are given, itis to be understood such that over multiple years and growing locationsthe tussock coloration of ‘Francy’ is predominantly green (RHS 125A;80-88%) with lesser contributions of blue-green (RHS 140A; 0-13%), whilethat of other high performance Freedom Fire experimental clones ARSFEID-23 (‘Vida’), ARS FEID-251 (‘Heidi’), and ARS FEID-258 (‘Kim’) arepredominantly green (RHS 125A; 44-65%) with contributions of blue-green(RHS 140A; 27-53%) coloration depending on year and growing location.Comparatively less brown (RHS 165A) and grey (RHS N187D) coloration wasapparent in ‘Francy’ (8 and 0%, respectively) and commercial controls (4and 0.03%, respectively). Culms and panicles of ‘Francy’ exhibit a broadarray of intense orange (RHS N25C; 0-15%), yellow (RHS 4A; 1-8%), gold(RHS 7C; 5-11%), pink (RHS 67D; 10-20%), purple (RHS N78A; 0-20%),salmon (RHS 58C; 1-13%), and maroon (RHS N79C; 24-36%) colorationdepending on year and growing location. These values differ appreciablyfrom commercial controls for orange (RHS N25C; 0-1%), yellow (RHS 4A;7-38%), gold (RHS 7C; 10-32%), pink (RHS 67D; 0-19%), purple (RHS N78A;0-2%), salmon (RHS 58C; 8-68%), and maroon (RHS N79C; 0-10%) coloration.Characteristics (color and % range) are approximations of averages setforth as accurately as practicable.

-   General description:    -   -   Plant type.—Semi-evergreen perennial grass.        -   Plant habit.—Tall statured grass with tight tussock (base);            densely cespitose.        -   Hardiness.—U.S.D.A. 5b-8a.        -   Culture.—Tolerant to heat, humidity, and drought.        -   Disease and pests.—No susceptible or resistance to pests and            diseases has been observed.        -   Root description.—Fibrous, without rhizomes.        -   Relative vigor.—Relatively high early spring vigor            (greening: April-May).-   Growth and propagation:    -   -   Propagation.—Division.        -   Root development from division.—Fully developed to plant            about 9 cm wide and 14 cm tall in 9-cm container under            controlled environment (greenhouse) conditions.        -   Growth rate.—Moderate to high when compared to commercial            controls.        -   Branching.—Main shoots grown from the base, tillers but no            lateral branches.-   Foliage description:    -   -   Leaf shape.—Filiform.        -   Leaf division.—Simple.        -   Leaf base.—Sheathed.        -   Leaf apex.—Long and tip can curve downward at tip depending            on growing environment.        -   Leaf aspect.—Leaves initially emerge upright, then cascade.        -   Leaf color.—Green (RHS 140A) to bluegreen (RHS 125A).        -   Leaf venation.—Parallel, color same as leaf blade.        -   Leaf margins.—Entire.        -   Leaf persistence.—Persistent between April-November.        -   Leaf diameter.—0.5-1.5 mm.        -   Leaf blade.—Conduplicate, abaxil surfaces smooth and adaxial            surfaces often scabrous.        -   Leaf durability to stress.—High, where no wilting is            exhibited when grown under semi-arid conditions of the Great            Basin at approximately 1,407 m elevation, average July            temperature and annual 20-year precipitation=approximately            31.7° C. and approximately 437 mm, respectively.-   Plant size and habit description (values given averaged over all    locations and years):    -   -   Plant size (biomass).—Biomass of ‘Francy’ as estimated by            dry weight averaged 73 g and ranged between 39-114 g            depending on growing location. The mean of commercial            rangeland Festuca cultivars examined was 34 g and biomass            ranged between 6-72 g.        -   Plant culm height.—The plant height of ‘Francy’ averaged 79            cm and ranged between 63-94 cm. The mean of the commercial            rangeland Festuca cultivars examined was 64 cm and ranged            between 28-80 cm depending on location.        -   Plant width.—The plant width of ‘Francy’ averaged 22 cm and            ranged between 18-32 cm. The mean of the commercial            rangeland Festuca cultivars examined was 21 cm and ranged            between 11-31 cm depending on location.        -   Plant habit.—Erect.        -   Branches.—Usually initially erect and then somewhat            procumbent (prostrate) depending panicle size and weight at            maturity.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flowers.—Florets often visible, but stamens and/or pistils            not prominent and sterile. Inflorescences 5-15 cm, loosely            contracted or open, with 1-2 branches per node. Panicle            coloration light tan (RHS NN155C) to light brown (RHS 156A).-   Culm description:    -   -   Surface.—Usually smooth with no projections or ridges,            somewhat glabrous (hairs rare), and occasionally scabrous            below the inflorescences.        -   Color distribution.—Coloration apparent the entire length of            culm.        -   Average percentage color distribution.—‘Francy’ exhibits            substantially high percentages of orange (RHS N25C; 0-15),            yellow (RHS 4A; 1-8), gold (RHS 7C; 5-11), pink (RHS 67D;            10-20), purple (RHS N78A; 0-20), salmon (RHS 58C; 1-13), and            maroon (RHS N79C; 24-36) compared to the commercial            rangeland Festuca cultivars [orange (RHS N25C; 0-1), yellow            (RHS 4A; 7-38), gold (RHS 7C; 10-32), pink (RHS 67D; 0-19),            purple (RHS N78A; 0-2), salmon (RHS 58C; 8-68), and maroon            (RHS N79C; 0-10)] examined depending on growing location.            Average relative color intensity (ARC). The ARC of ‘Francy’            averaged 4.3 and ranged between 4.1-4.4. The mean ARC of the            commercial rangeland Festuca cultivars examined was 2.9 and            ranged between 2.7-3.1 depending on location.

We claim:
 1. A new and distinct ornamental Festuca plant named ‘FreedomFire Francy’, as illustrated and described herein.